Engineering Services NAICS 541330

Feb 21, 2026 - Dashcams, AI Aid in Roadway Inspections

• State transportation agencies are increasingly adopting high-resolution dashcam imagery and other on-vehicle tools to monitor road assets and guide maintenance, according to Engineering News-Record. Alabama’s DOT is now using Bentley Systems’ Blyncsy platform, which crowdsources dashcam images and applies AI with 97% accuracy to assess conditions such as guardrails, signage, and striping. Bentley says more than 80% of DOTs have deployed or are considering the technology, and Hawaii’s DOT has already cut guardrail inspection times through its program. Ohio’s DOT is testing Blyncsy alongside LIDAR and Honda-provided sensors in a pilot with the University of Cincinnati, reducing duplicate trips and consolidating inspections across 49,000 lane miles. Early tests revealed some inconsistencies, but officials expect improved accuracy in the next phase and are exploring real-time crowdsourcing as connected-vehicle partnerships expand.
• North American construction and engineering spending on nonbuilding structures in 2026 is expected to grow by 4% after increasing an estimated 2% in 2025, according to FMI’s first-quarter 2026 North American Engineering and Construction Outlook. Sewage and waste disposal is expected to lead 2026 spending growth with a rise of 8% amid a recent EPA funding boost of $7 billion for water and wastewater projects. The data center boom is prompting utilities to invest in water reuse and reclamation projects, which will also help drive a 6% increase in water supply spending in 2026. Spending on conservation and development projects is expected to grow by 7% in 2026, with dredging making up a significant share of activity. Power project spending is forecast to rise by 5% in 2026 as data centers drive hardening and build-out of grid infrastructure. Highway and street spending is expected to grow by 1% in 2026 as funding through the Biden-era Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act matures.

• The construction industry will need to attract 349,000 new workers in 2026 and 456,000 in 2027, a shortage that could significantly influence demand for engineering services as firms struggle to keep projects on schedule and manage increasingly complex work. Associated Builders and Contractors said modest spending growth, an aging workforce, immigration enforcement, and rising material costs are tightening labor conditions, with retirements driving much of next year’s hiring needs. Demand is especially acute in sectors requiring precision skills, such as data centers and semiconductor facilities, where engineering-intensive projects depend on reliable labor pipelines. Persistent shortages may force owners to delay or redesign projects, increasing reliance on engineers for automation planning and productivity improvements. ABC leaders urged policymakers to expand visa programs, invest in workforce development, and stabilize trade policy to prevent labor constraints from slowing infrastructure and industrial growth.
• Construction in 2026 will continue to rely on a narrow set of strong sectors, with data centers and public infrastructure driving most activity as broader building slows, according to several industry insiders who spoke to Construction Dive. Material costs are expected to rise a modest 2% to 4%, though tariffs and labor shortages will keep pressure on budgets. The data center boom remains robust, but power constraints, land scarcity, and limited skilled labor could temper new projects. Infrastructure work should stay solid thanks to existing federal funding. However, delays in reauthorizing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or expiring clean energy incentives could tighten margins later in the year. Manufacturing construction will remain elevated due to ongoing megaprojects, even as EV-related investment cools. Lower interest rates may gradually revive residential, commercial, and private industrial projects, but improvements will unfold slowly as financing conditions ease.